Circuit maker and breaker



Aug. i2 im., mow@ W. LAYCOCK ET AL CIRCUIT MAKER un BREAKER r Filed MaIGh l, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9523 -3 .Plzjg V Augf 12 1924.,

w. A. LAYCOcK-ET AL CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Find March 1. 1923 2 sheets-snee@ 2 QQHH C. pmalamz.

HARRY HwoLeEiz-c ako: um!

Patented Aug. 12, 192140 UNITED STATES 1,505,041 PATENTl OFFICE- WILBR A. LAYCOCK, JOHN C. FARRAR, AND HARRY H. WOLBERT, or DELTA, Co-Lo- RADO, AssreNolRs 'ro MOTOR CURVE LIGHT COMPANY, OF DELTA, COLORADO, A

CORPORATION F COLORADO.

CIRCUT MAKER AND BREAIKER.

-Application led March 1, 1923. Serial No. 6512,11?.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that we, WILBUR A. LAYcoCK, J oHN C. FARRAR, and HARRY H. WoLBER'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Delta, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Makers and Breakers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to circuit makers and breakers and-more particularly to a device of this character embodying an automatic switch and a manually operated switch, the principalpurpose o f the invention being to provide a compact structure combining switches of this character so that the same may be rendered adaptable for use in conjunction with light control systems for motor vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved switch of the character set forth in our co-pending application, Serial No. 611,056, filed January 6, 1923, for circuit makers and breakers.

A still -further object of the invention .is to provide a combined device of this character in which connections may be easily made and in which the number of necessary parts is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of a construction, suitable for mounting upon the steering post of an automobile in such f mannerthat the automatic switch may be operated from a moving part of the steering mechanism and a manual switch may be so disposed as to be readily controlled by the r operator of the vehicle.4

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character particw l-.irly adapted for use in conjunction with a vehicle employing a lighting system such as set forth in our copend.ing application, Serial No. 611,055, filed January 6, .1923, for road illumination control for vehicles.

In the last named application we have described a control system for controlling the headlights of an lautomobile and for controlling -a pair of curve illuminating lights, or lights which direct rays to the side of the road upon which a vehicle is traveling upon a turning movement of the vehicle toward such side of the road. As set forth in this application, the control means is necessarily partially manual and partially automatic. The present invention resides in anl improved structure combining these features.

These and other objects we attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and whereln like reference'characters designate like parts throughout.

lin the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary si'de elevational view showing the steering post, the mast and the hub of a steering wheelA of a vehicle with a switch applied thereto constructed in accordance with the present invention and with the cover plate of the switch removed;

' Figure 2`is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section Online 2-2 of Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken in section below' the line 6-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the circuits and connections with the various parts of the present switch when the latter is employed for the control of the headlights and curve illuminating lights of a.

motor vehicle; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slidable switch element and adjacent parts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a mast of a steering gear, 11 a steering shaft and 12 a hub of a steering wheel, by means of which the steering shaft 11 is rotated to control the direction of the vehicle wheels. The numerals 13 and 14 designate clamping sections secured together as at 15 about the mast 10 and having clam ing engagement therewith, these sections E their ends to provide about the hub 12, -at the lower end thereof, a channel 16. Ezrtending outwardly from the section 14 are walls 17 forming upon the outer surface thereof a compartment 18, the outer end of plate 19.

eing formed at' taken substantially upon line 3-3 of Fig- The walls 17 have .formed thereon lugs 20 forming a seat for a plate 21 of insulating material which is held in position upon the lugs by securing elements 22 extending throu h the plate 21 and engaged in the lugs 20. 'his plate has formed upon that end thereof next adjacent the wall 23 of the section 14 which formsA the -end wall of the channel 16 a flange 24. The wall 23 has.

formed u on its inner face an outstanding rib 25, t e outer face of which, or that 4face next adjacent the cover plate 19, is

' complanar with the corresponding face of l surface of the rib 25 and flange 24, the stem portion 27 thereof .being slidable between adjacent faces of the rib and liange. The outer face of the head 28 is provided with a contact 29 electrically connected with a second contact 30 disposed at that side of the stem 27 next adjacent'the fiange 24. The flange 24 is provided at spaced points with slots 31 through which extend the ends of resilient contacts 32 and 33, the opposite ends of which are connected with binding posts 32a and 33arespectively.

At the opposite end of the plate 21 from the flange 24 an insulatory support 34 is provided, to the outer end of which is secured a resilient contact member 35, and a spring 36 bearing against the contact member and forcing the extremity of the same into engagement with the outer surface of the head 28, these elements being mounted upon the support 34 by means of a binding post 37. The inner face of the stem portion 27 of the automatic switch element has formed therein a notch 38 and the hub 12 of the steering wheel has formed therein a socket 39 in which is mounted a stem 40 having a spherical head 41 engaging in the notch 38. By inspecting Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that upon rotation of the steerlng wheel the head and. notch engagement wi l cause longitudinal shifting of the auto- -matic switch element 26 upon its trackway.

the direction of movement being dependent upon the direction of rotation of the steer ing wheel. It will likewise be seen that the movement of the automatic switch element, under inliuence of a steering wheel, is only Athrough a predetermined distance, the head '"41 leaving the notch 38 when this distance has Abeen traveled, so that there is no interference with the operation of the'steering wheel by the switch element. The switch element will be retained in the position at v which the head leaves it by the resilient envgagement of the contact 35 therewith inthe event that jar is applied to the vehicle, that would otherwise cause slight shifting there,-

'of'. It is pointed out that this resilient contact will permit the switch element to give or yield outwardly and the head 41 to pass the same until it again aligns with the notch l38, at whichl time the switch element will assume its normal position. It will be noted that upon movement of the switch element 26 upon its trackway a predetermined distance in either direction the contact 30 is engaged with one of the contacts 32 or 33l with a pivot member 44,: upon which is mounted a switch blade -45 substantiallyA T-shaped in plan, the stemlofthe T'forming the blade and the head of the "Tfy being engaged with the pivot. l

l The binding posts 32a and'33a are provided with contacts 32hV and 33b adapted for coaction with -the blade 48 and forisimultaneous 'engagement therebythese contacts 'having their end portions in proximity.

Upon the plate 21 in spaced relation to the 'binding posts 32EL and 33,a is a binding. post 49 havin a contact 50 for coaction Withthe blade. ne wall 17 of fthe section 14 has formed therein apertures 51 through which are directed stems 52 of operating buttons 53, the ends of the stems being pivotally engaged with opposite extremities of the head of the switch member 45. the stem of which forms the blade proper indicated at 48. By engaging the buttons the blade 48 may be alternated between the contact 50 and thc contacts 32b and 33T. Mounted upon the plate 21 at that side thereof remote from the blade 48 with regard to the pivot element 44 thereof and upon the blade 48 are pins 54 engaged by opposite ends of a tension spring 55, the pins 54 being so arranged that they are aligned with the pivot element 44 when the blade 48 is at a point intermediate the contacts 50, 32b and 33b and engaged with none thereof. This spring operates after the usual manner of springs of snap switches .completing the swinging of the switch blade after the blade has been manually moved a predetermined distance and providing a rapid engagement of the blade with its contacts.

In Figure 5 is shown a wiring diagram includingv a switch of this character. In this diagram it will be noted that the switch blade member 45 and accordinoly the blade lproper 48 thereof is electrically connected with one terminal of the battery, the opposite terminal of 'which is grounded. With the lirst terminal of the battery the contact element 35 is likewise electrically connected.

It will be seen that these connections may be accomplished by simply engaging a lead connected with battery 4with the binding post 37. rl`he curve illuminating lights designated at C are each connected with one of the binding posts 32a or'- 33a connected with each 4of the headlight elements H. lt will be seen that upon engagement of the blade i8 with the contact 50 the bright headlights will be illuminated and that during th1s period upon rotation o the steering wheel to a predetermined distance in either` direction,` one of the curve lights C will be illuminated-` lli, however, the

` switch blade 48 is engaged with the conis capable. of some change and modification in lieu of the usual dimmers,

tacts 32", 33D theheadlights will be extinguished and the curve lights simultaneously illuminated -to permit their use as dimmers.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that a switch constructed in accordance with our invention may be readily applied to a vehicle and so constructed that the parts thereof are readily accessible for replacement or repair and furthermore so constructed that a maximum control oi the 4head andv curve lightsjis permitted. llt will furthermorel be obvious that the construction of the switchas hereinbeiore setjforth without materially departing from the spirit of our invention and we accordingly doy not limit ourselves to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

It will be seen tht when the steering wheel is operated to arounda curve, the curve illuminating lights will be automatically illuminatedfor light-' ing the curved pathway 'of 'the vehicle at which time the curve, illuminating lights are operatedsingly. It will also be seen that when the headlights are manually extinguished and the curve illuminating lights are lighted simultaneously, they are used ing lighted on both sides so that it is perfectly 'safe tofproceed at normal speed and at the Sametime no glare -is presented to the eyes of the oncomingI driver so that heis able to seehis pathway.

. .Wh-at' we claim, is

X `hln an ,electric switch of the class ldescribed, a casing constructed for .attachment l tothe steering post mast of a motor vehicle fand having a chamber, .a plate of insulatmg material ixed within the chamber and having a lateral outwardlyr projecting dangle .60

upon its upper end, a rib proiecting inwar ly from the top walloi` the casing parallel 'i with and spaced above said 'dan e to proand the vide fa guideway' between the ri mounted flange, a movable switch element for rectilinear reciprocating movement in".

the desiredl terminal of the and the lbinding post 49 is 1 guide the vehicle the road bev a second manuali said guideway,`. circuit controlling means associated with said ment, and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post` said movable switch element having a head engaging the outer laces of the rib and the ilange, and said circuit controlling means including a resilient yieldable contact member having one end fixed in the casing and having its other end bearing upon the head of the movable switch element to retain the latter in its guideway 2. lln an electric switch of the class described, a casing constructed for attachnient to the. steering post mast ci a motor vehicle and havin' a chamber, a plate oi insulating materia fixed within the chamber and having a lateral outwardly projecting flange upon its upper end, a rib project ing inwardly from the top wall oi 'the casmovable switch eleing parallel with and spaced above said -switch element, and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post, said movable switch element having ahead engaging the outer faces oi the rib and the ilange, and said circuit` controlling means including a resilient yieldable contact member having one end fixed inthe casing and having its other end bearing upon the head of the movable switch element `to retain the latter in its guideway, the operative connection between the movable switch element and the steering post including a pin in iXed relation to the steering post, and the inner side of the movable switch element being into which said pin projects.-

3. ln'an electric switch of the class described, a casing constructd for attachment to the steering post mast o a motor vehicle and having a chamber, Aa plate of insulating material iixed within the chamber and havving a lateral .outwardly projecting iange a rib projecting 1nto providea guideway between the rib and the flange a movable switch element mounted for rectilinear reciprocating. movement in said guideway, circuit controlling means associated with said movable switch element, and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post, a pair ci contacts mounted on the insulatinor plate and having portions. exposed at space points at theupper side of thexange and operable movable switchA element for simu tanaously pair oi contacts.

4. In an electricswitch of the classdeformed with a notch e e connecting said iso scribed, a casing constructed for attachment to the steering post mast of a motor vehicle and having a chamber, a plate of insulating material fixed within the chamber and having a lateral outwardly projecting flange `upon its upper end, a 'rib projecting inwardly from the top wall of the casing parallel with and spaced above said flange to provide a guideway between the. rib and the flange, a movable switch element mounted for rectilinear reciprocating movement in said guideway, circuit controlling means associated with said movable switch element, and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post, a pair ci contactsmcunted on the insulating` plate and having portions exposed at spaced points at the upper side of the flange, and a second manually operable movable switch element for sinmltaneously connecting said plair of contacts, a Vcontact carried by the rst named movable switch element and alternately engageable with said pair of contacts, another contactconnected to the last named contact .and exposed at the outer side of the first named movable switch element, and means electrically connecting the last named movable switch element and the last named contact in all positions of said lirst named movable switch element.

45. In an electric switch of the class described, a casing constructed for attachment to the steering post mast of a motor vehicle and having a chamber, a plate of insulating material fixed within the chamber and having a lateral outwardly projecting flange upon its upper end, a rib projecting inwardly from the top wall of the casing parallell with and spaced above said flange to provide a guideway between the rib and the iiange, a movable switch element mounted for rectilinear reciprocating movement in said guideway, circuit controlling means associated with said movableswitch element,

and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post, a pair of contacts mounted on the insulating plate and having portions exposed at spaced points at the upper side of the flange, and a second manually operable movable switch element for simultaneously connect-- ing said pair of contacts, a contact carried by the first named movable switch element and alternately engageable with said pair of contacts, another contact 'connected to the last named contact and exposed at the' outer side of the rst named-movable switch ele-A ment, and means for placing the last named of the first named movable switch element.`

6. In an electric switch of the class described, a casingfconstructed for attachment to the steering post mast of a motor vehicle and having a chamber, a plate of insulating material fixed within the chamber and having a lateral outwardly projecting flange upon its upper end, a rib projecting inwardy from the top wall of the casing parallel with and spaced above said flange to provide a guideway between the rib and the flange, a movable switch element mounted for rectilinear reciprocating movement in said guideway, circuit controlling means associated with said movable switch element, and means to operatively connect said movable switch element to the steering post, a pair of contacts mounted on the insulatin plate and having portions exposed at spaced points at the upper side of the ange, and a second manually operable movable switch element for simultaneously connecting said pair of contacts, a contact carried by the first named movable switch element and alternately engageable with said pair of contacts, another contact connected to the last named contact and exposed at the outer side of the first named movable switch element, means for placing the last named contact in constant connection with the last named switch element in all positions of said first named movable switch element, said last named means including a resilient T-shaped strip having the end of its stem fixed in the casing and having the head thereof yieldingly engaging the outer face of the first named movable switch element, and a still further contact lixed in the casing adapted for connection in an electric circuit and en-` gageable by the second named movable switch element when the latter is disengaged from said pair of contacts.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

WILBUR A. LAYCOCK. JOHN C. FARRAR. HARRY H. WOLBERT. 

